China says three US NSA agents used Microsoft Windows to 'repeatedly carried out cyber attacks' during Asian Winter Games

China has accused the US National Security Agency (NSA) of conducting a series of sophisticated cyberattacks targeting the country’s critical infrastructure during the Asian Winter Games in February. The allegations claim the NSA sought to disrupt essential industries and steal sensitive data.

Citing state news agency Xinhua, Reuters reported that police in Harbin city in northeastern China have identified three individuals, Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson as alleged NSA agents involved in the attacks.

Furthermore, the accused NSA agents are alleged to have “repeatedly carried out cyberattacks on China's critical information infrastructure and participated in cyberattacks on Huawei and other enterprises.”

China claims NSA agents attacked infrastructure using Microsoft Windows
The news agency also stated that the NSA attacks targeted vital sectors in Heilongjiang province, including energy, transportation, water conservancy, communications, and national defense research institutions.

The agency claims the attacks were designed to “sabotage China's critical information infrastructure, causing social disorder, and stealing important confidential information.”

The report alleges that the NSA exploited pre-installed backdoors in Microsoft Windows operating systems on specific devices during the Winter Games. Xinhua also asserted that the NSA attempted to conceal its activities by purchasing IP addresses in various countries and renting network servers across Europe and Asia.

The agency further claimed the attacks aimed to steal personal data from participating athletes, with a peak occurring during the first ice hockey game on February 3.

China's foreign ministry confirmed the allegations and stated that it had raised its concerns with the US.

“We urge the U.S. to take a responsible attitude on the issue of cyber security and ... stop unprovoked smears and attacks on China,” ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a press briefing.